The Sturges Speakeasy — Restaurant in Harrisburg

Sturges was our favorite restaurant in the Harrisburg area for years, but the quality of their food has fallen to the point where it’s become irresponsible for us to continue giving it any more chances.

To preface, prior to tonight (June 15th, 2024) my partner and I hadn’t visited Sturges much since an incident back in spring of 2023 when we took his parents out for dinner and drinks there and his father was served a salad with a LIVE grasshopper in it. It was mixed in with the lettuce so, unfortunately, none of us noticed until it was already in his mouth. Horrifying. The server was extremely apologetic and took his entire meal off the bill and gave him a free refill on his mixed drink, but still. It was absolutely mortifying to have brought them to a place that served insects, especially after having touted it as our favorite spot. Probably should have left a review then, but it was our first negative experience after countless enjoyable visits.

Figuring the grasshopper incident was a fluke, we went back sparingly during the following months, maybe two or three times, but there was always something wrong with each meal. Half-wilted lettuce in a salad, one bad shrimp in an otherwise good appetizer, burnt food, etc. Eventually we stopped going altogether 8 months ago.

Now today (June 15th, 2024) we thought to give it one more chance for old time’s sake. But there were issues with the food once again, it took about an hour for us to receive it after being seated, and our appetizer didn’t come out until our entrees did. To be fair, we were warned by our waitress that there would be a 20-30 minute delay on food, but it took longer than that and she didn’t tells us until she had already seated us. If we had been told that at the door when she greeted us, we would have chosen to leave.

The appetizer we ordered was tortilla chips with guacamole and salsa. We purposely ordered that because it seemed like the simplest thing on the menu. When it arrived at the same time as our entrees upwards of 45 minutes after ordering, the guacamole was quite oxidized/darkened on the edges, as though it had been already sitting out for a while after being plated (pictured). It’s still okay to eat like that, but it’s odd to serve food to a customer looking that unappetizing. We didn’t touch it.

Our main issue, however, was the brussel sprouts that came as a side with my partner’s chicken. They were completely underdone, warm but still very much uncooked in the center. I took one off my partner’s plate to see for myself how bad it really was and noticed a very visible dark smudge underneath one of its outer leaves. I peeled the leaf off and discovered dirt caked between the layers (pictured). So I can only assume at this point that there is no longer robust quality checking or thorough cleaning happening with the food at this restaurant, given our experiences in 2023 and now this.

I hate to rail on a business so hard, especially a place I have such fond memories of. And I understand things are challenging when a restaurant is understaffed. But I have to say something when at this point I’m analyzing and picking apart everything I order because I’m no longer comfortable eating what I’ve...

I met two friends after work for a beer and dinner. My two friends enjoyed the beer selection. After arriving I had a Chocolate Stoudt, which was enjoyable along with the friendly bar atmosphere. We decided to order appetizers. My friend got the loaded tots, which were flavorful. I ordered the mussels which had taco meat in the sauce, interesting...but no major complaints thus far. Before leaving, my friends ordered another beer, while I ordered dinner. I ordered the Chicken Cheesesteak with a Caesar Salad after seeing another patron order this meal earlier at the bar. The food arrived and looked to be what I had expected. After two or three bites out of the food, I thought I bit into a chicken bone and became concerned. What I thought was a bone, turned out to be a PLASTIC WALL ANCHOR.

This is of concern on many levels. I am in the medical profession, anesthesia specifically and I also work closely with many GI doctors in the Central Pennsylvania Area. This wall anchor could have caused airway obstruction or damage. If swallowed, it could have possibly needed a Gastroenterologist or General Surgeon to remove from my GI system. VERY DANGEROUS! I will post picture of what I removed while chewing my food.

I immediately alerted the bar tender who relayed my concern to the manager. My friends (one a lawyer) and the patrons sitting beside me thought I handled the situation in a calm and collected manor. The manager stated, "I'm embarrassed." He offered reconcilation by buying me another beer. I refused, because with the profession I am in, I rarely have 1 drink and never more. The manager walked away.

TAB- I had an open tab with the bartender. He asked if its okay to run my tab. I thought this shouldn't be charged to me. After complaint, the entree was complementary as I had three bites a refused to eat more and the 1 beer was dropped from my tab. He stated, "you still have to pay for the mussels." At this point my friends and I are furious along with the patrons next to me at the bar who said "they would have incited a riot" and "that I needed to do something about this." My tab was 7.58 and I shouldn't have left a tip, but I was generous to bar tender and rounded it off to $10. I was more upset with the management of this restaurant rather than the bartender. HEALTH CONCERN! SHOULD BE INSPECTED!

I will not be revisiting this establishment and will not recommend this place to anyone I come across in the medical or legal profession in the Central Pennsylvania Area.

Please take a look at the picture, this is the WALL ANCHOR covered in...

My experience at this establishment was not it and if I could rate it with zero stars, I would. My friends and I decided to stop for dinner here at around 8 p.m. on Sunday 5/18/2025. I ordered the Seasonal Salmon and instead of the green beans, I decided I would get a fruit cup. This decision is one I wish I never made.

The lighting inside is dim. While eating my meal, I ate the fruit on the side and with the apples looking a bit brown, I should've already been on alert since this is a sign of being served fruit that was NOT fresh. Halfway through this fruit cup, I noticed that one of the blueberries I was about to eat had MOLD. MOLD ALL OVER THE FRUIT. I was appalled and shocked. I showed my friends and we had to shine a light on it just to double check. To my dismay, the other smaller blueberries at the bottom of the cup ALSO had mold.

I brought this issue to the attention of my server. She takes my plate with the blueberry and tells me she needs to show her manager. After a few minutes, she returns with my plate and looks me in the eye and says "It's just a blueberry." I literally had to shine my phone flashlight on the blueberry in order for her to see it... but she really came back and told me, "My manager and I took a look at it and it's just a blueberry, but I can take $4 off your meal for the fruit cup."

I have never in my life been into a restaurant where they don't own up to their mistakes nor acknowledge what is clearly in front of them. She really tried to GASLIGHT me even after I showed her the big molded spot with the white fuzz showing. THAT IS INSANE.

Fortunately, they took off $4 frickin dollars off of the meal, but I could've gotten sick since I ate half of the fruit cup already. I truly do not recommend this place at all, whatsoever. Honestly, eat here at your own risk.

Aside from the mold, the food also wasn't even good. The salmon was only lightly seasoned, and the rice was dry. I would say the only saving grace for the Seasonal Salmon dish was the sauce. 2/10 rating for the flavor.

Unfortunately, since I was very angry and did not want to cause a scene, I paid and left without taking photo evidence. But I know mold when I see it. So as I have said, eat here at...